Pedal device



B. H. JEFFERSON.

' PEDAL DEVICE. PLICATION FILED DEC 1,374,892. Patented Apr.12,'1921.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN H. JEFFERSON,OF CHIOAGO,'ILLI1\TOIS, ASSIGNOR TO LYON & HEALY, O CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PEDAL DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

Application filed. December 15,1919. Serial No. 344,912. V i

and useful Improvement in-Pedal Devices,

' of which the followingis a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanylng drawings, forming a part of this speclficatlon.

My invention relates to pedal devices and particularly to pedal devices for use on pianos or other musical instruments.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a pedal device which will accommodate persons with legs of different length, such for example as adult persons and children.

Another object of the invention is to permit the quick and ready adaptation of the pedal device for such different persons.

Another object of the invention is to secure simplicity of construction and operation.

Another object of the invention is to secure low cost of manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to secure the foregoing and other desirable results in a simple and expeditious manner.

, In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a front portion of a piano provided with three pedals embodying my present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on line 2-2 inFig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings I show a portion 1 of the front wall of a piano and also show three pedals 2, 3 and 4t, projecting from the same.

The pedal 2 is shown arranged to accommodate the different persons, such as adults and children. The pedals 3 and 4: are shown arranged merely to accommodate persons with long legs, such as adults; but these two pedals are capable of being equipped to accommodate short legged persons also, in accordance with my invention.

Referring to the pedal 2, this pedal has a toe portion 5 like the usual piano pedal and this is mounted on a rod or bar 6 which passes through the front wall 1 of the piano case.

Mounted on the pedal 2 is a supplemental pedal member 7 consisting of an upright portion 8 and a top portion'9, the latter of which is constructed substantially in accordance with the'toe piece 5 of the pedal 2. The member 7 is mounted so that it can be moved toward and away from the piano case wall 1, as shown by the solid and dotted lines in Fig. 2

WVhen said member 7 is moved forwardly to its forward position, shown in solid lines 1n said figure, the toe portion 9 is in position to provide a supplemental and elevate-d pedal member or pressing surface which may be acted upon in a position above the toe piece 5, whereby a child or other short legged person may readily operate the pedal by acting upon said elevated pedal or pressing surface. When said member 7 is moved backwardly toward the piano case and is in its rear position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, said toe portion 9 is out of position for actuation, so that the toe portion 5 of the,

pedal proper is accessible for operation of I the pedal. Thus the pedal may be operated by persons with long legs such as adults.

As a simple and practical arrangement for permitting the forward and backward movement of the member 7 so as to allow the operation of the pedal by means of upper and lower pressing or pedal surfaces, I show the pedal 2 provided with longitudinally extending grooves 1010, and also show the member 7 provided with clasping members '11-11 adapted to partially surround the shank or body portion of said pedal and having at their lower ends inwardly eX- tending hooked portions or projections 12 adapted to fit in the grooves 10. Thus the members 12 may slide in the grooves 10'.10 to permit the aforesaid movement on the bar of the member 7.

As a preferred arrangement I break away portions of the shank of the pedal 2 so as to provide spaces 1313 by means of which the member 7 may be lifted and separated from the pedal 2. Thus if desired said member 7 may be separated at any time from the pedal 2, so as to leave the latter in a condition in which it may be used only by adult or similar persons, in the manner usual and customary in pianos. Thus the piano pedal 2 may be equipped and adapted for use by children and adult persons interchangeably and at will, simply by shifting the member 7 backwardly and forwardly as required; and on the other hand it may be equipped simply for use by adult persons by entirely removing said member 7. Pedals 3 and 4 are shown-Without members such as the member 7, although it will be understood that said pedals 3 and 4 are or may be provided with the longitudinal slots 10 and recesses 13 to permit supplemental members 7 to be applied to said pedals and used in connection therewith if desired v It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A pedal device comprising a pedal proper and a supplemental member providing an elevated pressing surface, said pedal proper having its shank provided with longitudinally extending grooves and said supplemental member being provided with clasping members adapted to partially surround said shank and having projections adapted to fit and slide in said grooves.

2. A pedal device comprising a pedal proper and a supplemental member providing an elevated pressing surface, said pedal proper having its shank provided With longitudinallyextending grooves and said supplemental member being provided with clasping members adapted to partially surround said shank and having projections adapted to fit and slide in said grooves, said shank being provided with cut-away portions in the sides of said grooves so as to permit the supplemental member to be sepa rated from said pedal proper.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 29th day of November, A. D,

BENJAMIN H. JEFFERSON. 

